Reclosable bag having side seals

ABSTRACT

A reclosable bag includes a container configured to retain one or more items. The container includes a front panel coupled to a rear panel at a first side and a second side. A zipper is coupled to the front panel and the rear panel. The zipper is separated from the first side by a first gap, and the zipper is separated from the second side by a second gap. One or more side seals are between the first side and at least a first portion of the zipper and the second side and at least a second portion of the zipper.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.63/270,646 (filed 22 Oct. 2021), the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The subject matter described herein relates to reclosable bags, and moreparticularly to reclosable bags having side seals.

Discussion of Art

Child-resistant reclosable bags are used to hold items, such asmedicinal capsules, detergent capsules, cannabis products, and/or thelike. Such items may be attractive, but harmful, to a child.

Certain reclosable bags include zippers, such as may be closed viasliding fingers across opposed locking members of the zipper in atransverse direction (for example, across opposed faces of a bag).However, the zippers of certain reclosable bags do not extend to thesides of the bag. Gaps exist between the zipper and the sides of thebag. The gaps provide areas where small fingers, such as those ofchildren, may be inserted. In this manner, a child may insert a fingerinto the gap, and then move the finger across the zipper, therebyallowing the zipper (and therefore the bag) to be easily opened. Such ispossible because the zipper is not embedded with the side seals of thebag, and therefore is vulnerable to pulling forces. In general, the gapsbetween the zipper and the sides of the bag provide locations forchildren to access the bag, and consequently reduce the difficulty toopen the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

A need may exist for a reclosable bag that is difficult for children toopen. Further, a need may exist for a reclosable bag that eliminates,minimizes, or otherwise reduces a potential of fingers being insertedinto gaps between a zipper and sides of the bag.

With those needs in mind, certain embodiments of the present disclosurecan provide a reclosable bag including a container configured to retainone or more items. The container may include a front panel coupled to arear panel at a first side and a second side. A zipper can be coupled tothe front panel and the rear panel. The zipper may be separated from thefirst side by a first gap. The zipper can be separated from the secondside by a second gap. One or more side seals may be located between thefirst side and at least a first portion of the zipper and the secondside and at least a second portion of the zipper.

The one or more side seals may extend along a width of the container.The one or more side seals can include a first lateral sealing prongproximate to the first side of the container, a second lateral sealingprong proximate to the second side of the container, and one or morespan beams that connect the first lateral sealing prong to the secondlateral sealing prong. At least a portion of the one or more side sealscan overlap at least a portion of the zipper. The one or more side sealsmay be disposed above one or both of the first gap or the second gap. Orat least a portion of the one or more side seals can be disposed withinone or both the first gap or the second gap. The one or more side sealscan be disposed below one or both the first gap or the second gap.Optionally, the one or more side seals can extend above, through, andbelow one or both the first gap or the second gap. The zipper mayinclude one or more side crushings.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method offorming a reclosable bag. The method may include coupling a zipper to afront panel and a rear panel of a container. The front panel can becoupled to the rear panel at a first side and a second side. The zippermay be separated from the first side by a first gap. The zipper can beseparated from the second side by a second gap. The method also caninclude providing one or more side seals between the first side and atleast a first portion of the zipper and the second side and at least asecond portion of the zipper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The inventive subject matter may be understood from reading thefollowing description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to theattached drawings, wherein below:

FIG. 1 illustrates a lateral view of a reclosable bag, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the reclosable bag throughline 2-2 of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the reclosable bag throughline 3-3 of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 illustrates a lateral view of a reclosable bag, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a lateral view of a reclosable bag, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a method of forming a reclosable bag,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a reclosablebag having a side film-to-film seal above the zipper. The side seal mayblock access to the zipper from the sides. The width, thickness andnumber of seals can vary, and be tailored to a desired opening access ofthe bag.

FIG. 1 illustrates a lateral view of a reclosable bag 100 (such as achild-resistant reclosable bag), according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The bag 100 may include a container 102, such as aflexible pouch, package, bag, or the like, configured to hold one ormore items (not shown) in a product portion 101 below a zipper 110. Inat least one embodiment, the bag 100 can be formed of one or moreflexible and resilient polymers.

The container 102 may include a sealed base 104 at a bottom end 106, andflexible panels 108 extending upwardly from the base 104 toward a topend 109. The flexible panels 108 may include a front panel or face 108 aand a rear panel or face 108 b. The front panel 108 a can oppose therear panel 108 b. The front panel 108 a may connect to the rear panel108 b at a first side 111 a and a second side 111 b (which canoptionally be formed by folds in the web). For example, the front panel108 a and the rear panel 108 b can be sealed together at the sides 111 aand 111 b.

The zipper 110 may be coupled to the container 102 and may be disposedproximate the top end 109. The zipper 110 can include opposed lockingelements 112 on the front panel 108 a and the rear panel 108 b. A lowerflange 114 may extend from at least one of the locking elements 112 andcan include a seal 116 that sealingly couples the zipper 110 to thefront panel 108 a and/or the rear panel 108 b. An upper flange 117 canextend upwardly from at least one of the locking elements 112. The upperflange 117 may include a seal that sealingly couples the zipper 110 tothe rear panel 108 b and/or the front panel 108 a.

The zipper 110 can allow the bag 100 to be selectively opened andclosed. The opposed locking elements 112 may selectively mate with oneanother. For example, to mate the locking elements 112 together into aclosed state, an individual may press both locking elements 112proximate to the side 111 a and slides fingers across the opposedlocking elements in a transverse direction A toward the opposite side111 b.

As shown, a gap 118 a may exist between the zipper 110 and the side 111a. Additionally or alternatively, a gap exists 118 b may exist betweenthe zipper 110 and the side 111 b. The gaps 118 a and 118 b may becaused by the forming process of the bag, which includes securing thezipper 110 onto inner surfaces of a film, and then folding the film overto form the unitary container 102. These gaps can create unintended orundesirable access openings through which a child may be able to pullopen the zipper and access the contents inside the bag or enclosure.

To block a path into the gaps 118 a and 118 b, a side seal 120 may becoupled to the container 102. The side seal 120 can be secured to innersurfaces of the container 102. The side seal 120 can be formed of afilm. For example, the film can be formed from the same material as thecontainer 102. The side seal 120 may provide a sealing bridge 121 abetween the side 111 a and the zipper 110, and a sealing bridge 121 bbetween the side 111 b and the zipper 110. As such, distinct sidesealing elements, such as the sealing bridges 121 a and 121 b can beformed between the sides 111 a and 111 b, respectively, and the zipper110.

In at least one embodiment, the side seal 120 may extend across anentire width 122 of the container 102. For example, the side seal 120may include lateral sealing prongs 124 a and 124 b that sealingly couplelateral portions of the front panel 108 a and the rear panel 108 btogether at the locations of the lateral sealing prongs 124 a and 124 b.In a further example, the lateral sealing prongs 124 a and 124 b may becrushed to provide increased sealing. The lateral sealing prongs 124 aand 124 b can connect to a span beam 126 a (which may have a height thatis less than the lateral sealing prongs 124 a and 124 b) that extendsacross an inner surface of the front panel 108 a, and a span beam 126 b(shown in FIG. 3 ) that may extend across an inner surface of the rearpanel 108 b. Optionally, the side seal 120 may not include the span beam126 a and the span beam 126 b. Instead, a first side seal can be definedby the sealing bridge 121 a (and/or the lateral prong 124 a), and asecond side can be defined by the sealing bridge 121 b (and/or thelateral prong 124 b).

As shown, the side seal 120 can be located above the locking elements112. At least a portion of the side seal 120 can overlap a portion ofthe zipper 110, such as a portion of the upper flange 117. Optionally,the side seal 120 can be above an entirety of the zipper 110. Byproviding the side seal 120 at the sides 111 a and 111 b, which providessealed, blocking members between the zipper 110 and the sides 111 a and111 b, the side seal 120 may close an entry path into the gaps 118 a and118 b, thereby preventing, minimizing, or otherwise reducing a potentialof fingers being inserted into the gaps 118 a and 118 b (and therebypreventing, minimizing, or otherwise reducing a potential of the zipper110 being inadvertently opened). The side seal 120 can completely fillthe gaps 118 a and 118 b, instead of being disposed above (or below).The side seal 120 can extend from areas above the gaps 118 a and 118 bto areas below the gaps 118 a and 118 b.

The zipper 110 can also include a side crushing 128 a at a first side129 a and a side crushing 128 b at a second side 129 b, which may beopposite the first side 129 a. The side crushings 128 a and 128 b canprovide additional securing strength between the zipper 110 and thecontainer 102. The side crushings 128 a and 128 b may provide addedaccess difficulty at the sides 129 a and 129 b, respectively.Optionally, the zipper 110 may not include the side crushings 128 a and128 b.

The zipper 110 can be pre-applied to the film of the container 102 bythe lower flange 114 and sealed thereto by the seal 116. The upperflange 117 can be sealed to the film of the container 102 when the sideseal 120 is coupled to the container 102. The side seal 120 can beformed, at least in part, by a jaw that secures the zipper 110 to thecontainer 102, and/or a separate jaw, and the zipper 110 and the sideseal 120 can be sealed to the container 102 simultaneously, or atdifferent times.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the reclosable bag throughline 2-2 of FIG. 1 . As shown, the zipper 110 may include a lockingelement 112 a secured to an inner surface 113 of the front panel 108 a,and a locking element 112 b secured to an inner surface 115 of the rearpanel 108 b. FIG. 2 illustrates the container 102 at an area below theside seal 120 (shown in FIG. 1 ). As such, the gaps 118 a and 118 b mayexist between the sides 111 a and 111 b of the container 102 and thelocking elements 112 a and 112 b of the zipper 110.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the reclosable bag throughline 3-3 of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 illustrates the container 102 at an areaabove the locking elements 112 a and 112 b. As noted, the side seal 120can be above the locking elements 112 a and 112 b.

The lateral sealing prongs 124 a and 124 b may sealingly couple lateralportions 140 of the front panel 108 a and the rear panel 108 b together.The lateral sealing prong 124 a can provide a sealing engagement betweenthe side 111 a of the container 102 and a first side of the zipper 110,such as a side edge 142 a of the upper flange 117 a secured to an innersurface of the front panel 108 a, and a side edge 144 a of the upperflange 117 b secured to an inner surface of the rear panel 108 b.Similarly, the lateral sealing prong 124 b may provide a sealingengagement between the side 111 b of the container 102 and an oppositesecond side of the zipper 110, such as a side edge 142 b of the upperflange 117 a secured to an inner surface of the front panel 108 a, and aside edge 144 b of the upper flange 117 b secured to an inner surface ofthe rear panel 108 b. The lateral sealing prongs 124 a and 124 b mayconnect to the span beam 126 a, which may overlap the upper flange 117a, and the span beam 126 b, which may overlap the upper flange 117 b.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 , the reclosable bag 100 can include thecontainer 102, which is configured to retain one or more items. Thecontainer may include the front panel 108 a coupled to the rear panel108 b at the first side 111 a and the second side 111 b. The zipper 110can be coupled to the front panel 108 a and the rear panel 108 b. Thezipper 110 can be separated from the first side 111 a by the first gap118 a, and the zipper 110 may be separated from the second side 111 b bythe second gap 118 b. One or more side seals 120 can be located between(for example, provide a sealing engagement with) the first side 111 aand at least a first portion of the zipper 110 and the second side 111 band at least a second portion of the zipper 110. The side seal(s) 120may block one or more pathways into the first gap 118 a and the secondgap 118 b.

The side seal(s) 120 can be disposed above (and optionally within) oneor both the first gap 118 a or the second gap 118 b. Disposing the sideseal(s) 120 above the first gap 118 a and the second gap 118 b canensure or increase the likelihood that an individual cannot insert afinger into the first gap 118 a and the second gap 118 b from a locationoutside of the container 102. As such, when the container 102 is closed,a child may be unable to engage the first gap 118 a or the second gap118 b.

Optionally, at least a portion of the side seal(s) 120 can be disposedwithin one or both the first gap 118 a or the second gap 118 b. Asanother example, the side seal(s) can be disposed below (and optionallywithin) one or both the first gap 118 a or the second gap 118 b. Asanother example, the side seal(s) can extend above, through, and belowone or both the first gap 118 a or the second gap 118 b.

FIG. 4 illustrates a lateral view of a reclosable bag 100, according toan embodiment of the present disclosure. The side seal can be disposedbelow the gaps 118 a and 118 b between the zipper 110 and the sides 111a and 111 b. For example, a first side seal 120 a may be disposed belowthe gap 118 a and sealingly engage the side 111 a and a lower portion ofthe zipper 110. A second side seal 120 b can be disposed below the gap118 b and sealingly engage the side 111 b and a lower portion of thezipper 110. Optionally, the side seals 120 a and 120 b may be locatedabove the gaps 118 a and 118 b, respectively. The side seals 120 a and120 b may be at least partially within the gaps 118 a and 118 b,respectively, in another example.

FIG. 5 illustrates a lateral view of a reclosable bag 100, according toan example of the present disclosure. The side seal 120 a may have atleast a portion within the gap 118 a, and the side seal 120 b may haveat least a portion within the gap 118 b. For example, the side seals 120a and 120 b can be sealed to lateral portions of the lower flange 114 ofthe zipper 110. Such a configuration can provide a sandwich structure ofside seal/flange/side seal.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a method of forming a reclosable bag,according to one example. Referring to FIGS. 1-6 , at 200, the zipper110 may be coupled to one or more interior surfaces of the container102. For example, opposed portions of the zipper 110 can be coupled toinner surfaces of the front panel 108 a and the rear panel 108 b. At202, one or more side seals 120 can be provided between the sides 111 aand 111 b of the container 102 and the zipper 110 to block one or morepaths into the gaps 118 a and 118 b between the sides 111 a and 111 b ofthe container 102 and the zipper 110.

The providing 202 may include extending the one or more side seals 120along the width 122 of the container 102. The method also may includeoverlapping at least a portion of the zipper 110 with at least a portionof the one or more side seals 120. The providing 202 may includedisposing the one or more side seals 120 above one or both of the firstgap 118 a or the second gap 118 a. The providing 202 optionally includesdisposing at least a portion of the one or more side seals 120 withinone or both the first gap 118 a or the second gap 118 b. As anotherexample, the providing 202 can include disposing the one or more sideseals 120 below one or both the first gap 118 or the second gap 118 b.As another example, the providing 202 may include extending the one ormore side seals 120 above, through, and below one or both the first gap118 a or the second gap 118 b.

the method also may include forming one or more side crushings 128 aand/or 128 b on the zipper 110.

In one example, a reclosable bag is provided and may include a containerthat can retain one or more items. The container can include a frontpanel coupled to a rear panel at a first side and a second side. The bagalso may include zipper coupled to the front panel and the rear panel.The zipper can be separated from the first side by a first gap. Thezipper may be separated from the second side by a second gap. The bagalso may include or more side seals between the first side and at leasta first portion of the zipper and the second side and at least a secondportion of the zipper.

The one or more side seals may extend along a width of the container.The one or more side seals may include a first lateral sealing prongproximate to the first side of the container, a second lateral sealingprong proximate to the second side of the container, and one or morespan beams that connect the first lateral sealing prong to the secondlateral sealing prong. At least a portion of the one or more side sealscan overlap at least a portion of the zipper. The one or more side sealsmay be disposed above one or both of the first gap or the second gap. ATleast a portion of the one or more side seals may be disposed within oneor both the first gap or the second gap. The one or more side seals canbe disposed below one or both the first gap or the second gap. The oneor more side seals may extend above, through, and below one or both ofthe first gap or the second gap. The zipper may include one or more sidecrushings.

In another example, a method of forming a reclosable bag is provided.The method may include coupling a zipper to a front panel and a rearpanel of a container. The front panel can be coupled to the rear panelat a first side and a second side. The zipper can be separated from thefirst side by a first gap. The zipper may be separated from the secondside by a second gap. The method also may include providing one or moreside seals between the first side and at least a first portion of thezipper and the second side and at least a second portion of the zipper.Providing the side seal(s) may include extending the one or more sideseals along a width of the container. The one or more side seals mayinclude a first lateral sealing prong proximate to the first side of thecontainer, a second lateral sealing prong proximate to the second sideof the container, and one or more span beams that connect the firstlateral sealing prong to the second lateral sealing prong. The methodalso may include overlapping at least a portion of the zipper with atleast a portion of the one or more side seals. Providing the sideseal(s) may include disposing the one or more side seals above one orboth the first gap or the second gap. Providing the side seal(s) mayinclude comprises disposing at least a portion of the one or more sideseals within one or both the first gap or the second gap. Providing theside seal(s) may include comprises disposing the one or more side sealsbelow one or both the first gap or the second gap. Providing the sideseal(s) may include extending the one or more side seals above, through,and below one or both the first gap or the second gap. The method alsomay include forming one or more side crushings on the zipper.

In another example, a reclosable bag is provided and may include acontainer that can retain one or more items. The container may include afront panel coupled to a rear panel at a first side and a second side.The bag also may include a zipper coupled to the front panel and therear panel. The zipper may include one or more side crushings and may beseparated from the first side by a first gap. The zipper can beseparated from the second side by a second gap. The bag also may includeone or more side seals between the first side and at least a firstportion of the zipper and the second side and at least a second portionof the zipper. The one or more side seals may be disposed above andwithin at least a portion of one or both the first gap or the secondgap.

The one or more side seals may include a first lateral sealing prongproximate to the first side of the container, a second lateral sealingprong proximate to the second side of the container, and one or morespan beams that connect the first lateral sealing prong to the secondlateral sealing prong.

As described herein, embodiments of the present disclosure providereclosable bags that are difficult for children to open. Further,embodiments of the present disclosure provide reclosable bags that blockpathways into gaps between a zipper and sides of the bag.

The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise. “Optional” or “optionally” meansthat the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may notoccur, and that the description may include instances where the eventoccurs and instances where it does not. Approximating language, as usedherein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modifyany quantitative representation that could permissibly vary withoutresulting in a change in the basic function to which it may be related.Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about,”“substantially,” and “approximately,” may be not to be limited to theprecise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximatinglanguage may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuringthe value. Here and throughout the specification and claims, rangelimitations may be combined and/or interchanged, such ranges may beidentified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unlesscontext or language indicates otherwise.

This written description uses examples to disclose the embodiments,including the best mode, and to enable a person of ordinary skill in theart to practice the embodiments, including making and using any devicesor systems and performing any incorporated methods. The claims definethe patentable scope of the disclosure, and include other examples thatoccur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples areintended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structuralelements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, orif they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantialdifferences from the literal language of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reclosable bag, comprising: a containerconfigured to retain one or more items, wherein the container comprisesa front panel coupled to a rear panel at a first side and a second side;a zipper coupled to the front panel and the rear panel, wherein thezipper is separated from the first side by a first gap, and wherein thezipper is separated from the second side by a second gap; and one ormore side seals between the first side and at least a first portion ofthe zipper and the second side and at least a second portion of thezipper.
 2. The reclosable bag of claim 1, wherein the one or more sideseals extend along a width of the container.
 3. The recloseable bag ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more side seals comprise: a first lateralsealing prong proximate to the first side of the container; a secondlateral sealing prong proximate to the second side of the container; andone or more span beams that connect the first lateral sealing prong tothe second lateral sealing prong.
 4. The reclosable bag of claim 1,wherein at least a portion of the one or more side seals overlap atleast a portion of the zipper.
 5. The reclosable bag of claim 1, whereinthe one or more side seals are disposed above one or both the first gapor the second gap.
 6. The reclosable bag of claim 1, wherein at least aportion of the one or more side seals is disposed within one or both thefirst gap or the second gap.
 7. The reclosable bag of claim 1, whereinthe one or more side seals are disposed below one or both the first gapor the second gap.
 8. The reclosable bag of claim 1, wherein the one ormore side seals extend above, through, and below one or both the firstgap or the second gap.
 9. The reclosable bag of claim 1, wherein thezipper comprises one or more side crushings.
 10. A method of forming areclosable bag, the method comprising: coupling a zipper to a frontpanel and a rear panel of a container, wherein the front panel iscoupled to the rear panel at a first side and a second side, wherein thezipper is separated from the first side by a first gap, and wherein thezipper is separated from the second side by a second gap; and providingone or more side seals between the first side and at least a firstportion of the zipper and the second side and at least a second portionof the zipper.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said providingcomprises extending the one or more side seals along a width of thecontainer.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more sideseals comprise: a first lateral sealing prong proximate to the firstside of the container; a second lateral sealing prong proximate to thesecond side of the container; and one or more span beams that connectthe first lateral sealing prong to the second lateral sealing prong. 13.The method of claim 10, further comprising overlapping at least aportion of the zipper with at least a portion of the one or more sideseals.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein said providing comprisesdisposing the one or more side seals above one or both the first gap orthe second gap.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein said providingcomprises disposing at least a portion of the one or more side sealswithin one or both the first gap or the second gap.
 16. The method ofclaim 10, wherein said providing comprises disposing the one or moreside seals below one or both the first gap or the second gap.
 17. Themethod of claim 10, wherein said providing comprises extending the oneor more side seals above, through, and below one or both the first gapor the second gap.
 18. The method of claim 10, further comprisingforming one or more side crushings on the zipper.
 19. A reclosable bag,comprising: a container configured to retain one or more items, whereinthe container comprises a front panel coupled to a rear panel at a firstside and a second side; a zipper coupled to the front panel and the rearpanel, wherein the zipper further comprises one or more side crushings,wherein the zipper is separated from the first side by a first gap, andwherein the zipper is separated from the second side by a second gap;and one or more side seals between the first side and at least a firstportion of the zipper and the second side and at least a second portionof the zipper, wherein the one or more side seals are disposed above andwithin at least a portion of one or both of the first gap or the secondgap.
 20. The reclosable bag of claim 19, wherein the one or more sideseals comprise: a first lateral sealing prong proximate to the firstside of the container; a second lateral sealing prong proximate to thesecond side of the container; and one or more span beams that connectthe first lateral sealing prong to the second lateral sealing prong.